(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

recruitment

RDP welcomes community to Homecoming as enrolment doing well

Oct 22, 2022 | 11:33 AM

Red Deer Polytechnic hosted the final day of its Homecoming event on Saturday, welcoming prospective and current students, as well as the general public, to meet with different faculties and learn about the education opportunities offered at the institution.

There is also free admission to see the Queens and Kings soccer teams play at noon and 2 p.m., respectively.

Rebecca Benson, Registrar, and Dean of Enrolment Management, says the event is primarily an opportunity to recruit and showcase to current applicants that they’re making the right decision by choosing RDP.

“Enrolment is up this year, especially with international students sitting at about 500. We’re looking to increase that for winter and next fall more so with domestic learners,” says Benson. “We have about 4,100 students in our credit programs, with 2,500 in trades and another 4,000 in extended education.”

Benson says enrolment is in a spot where RDP thinks they should be right now, but continuing to grow is a goal.

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Benson also spoke of the vibrancy on campus.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for the last two years,” she says, alluding to the pandemic-induced dullness.

“Students are back, which adds excitement and energy to the building. Courses and hallways are full and it’s been a great year so far.”

RDP expects enrolment to continue increasing next term, partially due to additional funding provided by the provincial government over the next three years to expand a variety of high-demand programs for an additional 700 students.

The open house ended at noon.